The Portland daily press., 1887-09-16
FLYERS AGAIN BEcALMEp.
Volunteer and MayfIower to Try and
Race Today.
Cement and varnIsh for the Hull Of
the Thistle.
The Scotch Yacht to be Put In the
Market Here.

New YORK, Sept. 15.-Early this morning
there was fair prospect of a race between
the Volunteer and Mayhower, but toward
10 o'clock the wind all died out. There was
dead calm until o'clock, and at that time
the race was postponed. 1t will be tried
again today over the same course.
The Thistle's ability and the effect that
the covering on her sides and bottom will
have in giving her speed, are topics which
have been discussed with even more eager
ness since the Scotch yachts performance
during Tuesdays race than before she had
that chance to sail in company with her
American competitors.
Although the Thistle was docked and put
into splendid sailing order Immediately be-
lore her ocean voyage, her bottom Is now
very foul and patches Of her outside coating
OF cement and an enamel-like substance are
breaking off. When she is taken out of the
water any one who cares is to be allowed 10
t VISIT and inspect her. Her owners think
that the eager observers expected will be
nightly surprised. not at the novelty of her
lines aud the occult machinery of her keel
but at the simplicity of everything They
VIII probably also lind that as piece Of fin
lshed workmanship the Thistle surpasses
the Volunteer. Visitors to the Volunteer
when ON the dry dock were somewhat aston
lshed to find evidences. either Of haste or
carelessness In her-rivetings were plainly
visible and so forth. The Thistle was COM
pletely covered first Of all With cement.
which was put on the iron. Above that
three coats OF the patent enamel. which is
really the only secret about her, were laid
on: Not joining. not seam, not rivet Is
to be seen, and when she is in frst-rate rae
ing order her sides and her bottom are as
glossy and smooth as glass It Is the
breaking of the cement and not Of the new
preparation that is causing her to become
,scaooy, put OF course when the cement
breaks on It causes some Of the coating over
it to break also. Enough of the mixture has
been brought across on board to give her
three fresh coats of it, 1t takes a long time
70 dry, and that is the principal reason why
she must be hauled out In plenty of time.
Since her launch the Thistle has twice
been overhauled. The first time the work
was done hurriedly. She was docked in the
evening and was in the water again early in
the morning. The results were thus describ-
ed TO reporter by one of the officers 1--WE
had to race the Irex at Rothesay Just after
that. We won all light enough, but some
now II seemed all the time as if the Thistle
was dragging in the water. She seemed to
hang back, and the Irex was rushing us
nard. Wen, when the race was over, we no
teed that the Thistle's sides were all clogged
with little blsters and air bubbles, that had
been acting as a sort of brake. That was
because she had been launched long before
her patent coating was dry"
10 complete the racing crew of the Thistle
SIX Mohican men are temporarily to be
transferred to her. She win race with exact
ly the same number with which she has
scored her victories, and every man will have
his. accustomed post. The Thistle, it is
claimed, can go about in sixteen seconds,
whereas the Volunteer and Mayflower take
about thirty-two. Hopes are entertained by
her officers that in the spin be-
fore the wind and beat back this
may give them an advantage over
their adversary. After tie race the
beautiful Scotch cutter, win or lose is to 20
into the market, and her men are to be sent
home by one of the ocean steamers Mrs.
Bell Is regarded by the crew as bringing
luck to the Thistle. She will be on board
and ON deck in the cup ruces let it blow hard
or blow light
1t is the general opinion among yachtsmen
that the Americas cup committee will not
order another race over the inside course,
as the sailing over the ouside course and the
triangular course will afford them sufficient
evidence to Judge of the relative merits of
the two boats. What is especially desired is
a trial between the yachts in good hard
blow. They have never yet met under those
conditions, and the Mayflower's people are
sangulne that in such weather they would
hold their own with the Volunteer. .1-